Florida Rep. Allen West joined Soledad O'Brien on CNN's Starting Point Wednesday morning to express his skepticism about the payroll-tax compromise reached in Congress. He told the host he currently wouldn't support the plan because it was a "political gimmick" and would be done "on the backs of American homeowners."

O'Brien asked him about President Obama's What Does $40 Mean to You? angle, and he dismissed it, saying $40 wouldn't even fill up his gas tank.